Chicago Bears – 2014 Draft Recap
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Round 3: DT Will Sutton, Arizona St (6’1, 303) – Grade A
After Timmy Jernigan was drafted by the Ravens, three picks before the Bears second round selection, Will Sutton was the next rated 3-tech DT on my board. I was disappointed when they passed on him for Ferguson even though I had Ferguson only 1 spot lower in my rankings, but was pleasantly surprised to see Sutton still available in round 3. I didn’t expect the Bears to draft two DTs in a row, but I’m glad they did. DT was a clear position of need and after picking up DTs off the street last year the Bears needed some quality depth. With Ratliff, Paea, Collins, Ferguson, Sutton and little known Tracy Robertson the Bears are in good shape at the DT position. DEs Lamarr Houston and Israel Idonije can move inside on passing downs as well.
Sutton can provide depth at the position, but I think he can be considerably more than that. In 2012 (at 290 pounds) Sutton was one of the best DTs in the country. He had 13 sacks, 23.5 TFLs, 3 forced fumbles and was a consensus All-American. If he would have declared for the draft, Sutton most likely would have been a first round pick. In 2013 ASU changed to a 3-4 defensive scheme and Sutton was asked to move from the 3-tech position to NT. He was also asked to gain weight to hold up better against the run and he put on about 25 pounds of bulk (not muscle). Understandably Sutton lost some of the explosion and quickness that made him such a force in 2012. He wasn’t as quick and only had 4 sacks, but he showed that he could be a force against the run and was named the Pac 12 co-defensive player of the year.
By the Senior Bowl Sutton was down to around 300 pounds (from 315) and showed flashes of his old quickness, but only flashes. He still looked sluggish at times and I think that is why he dropped as far as he did. Supposedly Sutton is down to his 2012 playing weight of 290 now and if he can regain the explosion off that ball that he had as a junior, then the Bears may have drafted the 2nd best 3-tech in the draft behind Aaron Donald. Sutton will start out as a back-up for Nate Collins, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the starter by the end of the 2014 season.